Developmental Disabilities Administration.
The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) is a division of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) that assists individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families with obtaining services and supports based on individual preferences, capabilities, and needs. Clients of the DDA may live in the community or in an institutional setting such as a residential habilitation center (RHC).
Residential Habilitation Centers.
The DDA operates four RHCs that provide clients with residential, habilitative support in an institutional setting. The RHCs generally only serve clients age 21 and older, though clients 16 and older may be served on a short-term basis for respite or crisis stabilization services when no appropriate service options are available in the community. The RHCs are federally certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as either an intermediate care facility (ICF) that provides individualized habilitative services, a nursing facility that is capable of caring for clients with unique medical needs, or both.
The four RHCs are:
Rainer School.
Rainier School provides 24-hour residential care and teaching in the areas of work or vocational training, leisure activities, social relationships, and everyday life tasks. Between 2019 and 2023, two of Rainier School's three program areas were closed following CMS findings of noncompliance with federal requirements, and residents were relocated. The one remaining program area is CMS certified and is currently serving 58 long-term clients and 15 short-term clients. The Rainier School also operates Klamath Cottage, which was opened in 2020 at the direction of the Governor to move medically stable clients out of acute hospital beds to ensure hospital capacity was available during the pandemic surge, and which provides transitional services while long-term community-based options are pending. Klamath Cottage operates as a non-ICF program with state funds, and currently supports eight individuals. Funding for Klamath Cottage expires in June, 2025.
Yakima Valley School.
Yakima Valley School provides direct care and support to clients with 24-hour nursing care, clinical and therapeutic programs, and recreation and activities. The facility also offers planned respite services and crisis stabilization services. Since 2017, new admissions, other than short-term admissions for respite or crisis stabilization services, have not been permitted at Yakima Valley School, and the facility is scheduled to close when the number of permanent residents reaches eight people. Yakima Valley School is currently serving 36 long-term clients and has 13 additional clients recieving respite and crisis services.
When the Yakima Valley School closes as an RHC, it must operate crisis stabilization beds and as many respite beds as the needs of the DSHS-identified catchment area or as emergency placement needs require, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. The DSHS must provide state operated living alternatives (SOLAs) within funds specifically provided in the budget for RHC residents transitioning to the community who prefer a SOLA setting.
Supported Living Services.
Supported living services support clients living in their own home in the community with support services provided by a DDA contracted agency. Individuals typically live with up to three roommates and receive staffed support based on needs, ranging from a few hours per month to 24 hours per day. Clients pay for their own rent, food, and other personal expenses. SOLAs are equivalent to supported living but are staffed by state employees rather than contracted providers.
By June 30, 2027, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) must close Rainier School and Yakima Valley School residential habilitation centers (RHCs) and relocate current residents. The DSHS may not permit any new admissions to either RHC unless admission is limited to the provision of short-term respite or crisis stabilization services.
Within available funds, the DSHS must provide state-operated living alternatives (SOLAs) to residents transitioning to the community as a result of the closures who prefer a state-operated community residential service, and may use existing supported living program capacity in the community for former residents who prefer and choose a supported living program. The DSHS must provide space at other RHCs to those who prefer a RHC setting.
The DSHS, within available funds, must offer RHC employees opportunities to work in SOLAs and other state facilities and programs.
Current law provisions related to the closure of Yakima Valley School when it reaches a census of eight residents are repealed.